Au*thor"i*ty (&?;), n.;
pl. Authorities (&?;). [OE. autorite,
auctorite, F. autorité, fr. L. auctoritas, fr. auctor. See Author, n.]
1. Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to
act; power exercised buy a person
in virtue of his office
or trust; dominion; jurisdiction; authorization; as, the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children; the authority of a court.
Thus can the
demigod, Authority,
Make us pay down for our offense.
Shak.
By what authority doest thou these things ?
Matt. xxi.
23.
2. Government; the persons or the body
exercising power or command; as, the local authorities of the States; the military
authorities. [Chiefly in the plural.]
3. The power derived from opinion, respect, or esteem; influence of character, office, or station, or mental or moral superiority, and the like;
claim to be
believed or obeyed; as, an historian of no authority; a magistrate of great authority.
4.
That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support
of opinions, actions, measures, etc. Hence: (a) Testimony; witness.
"And on that
high authority had believed." Milton. (b) A precedent; a decision of a
court, an official declaration,
or an opinion, saying, or statement worthy to be
taken as a precedent. (c) A book containing such a statement or opinion, or the author
of the book. (d)
Justification; warrant.
Wilt thou be
glass wherein it shall discern
Authority for sin, warrant for blame.
Shak.
Hear it pronounced